Mon

Dubsbhoy · Sep 8, 2004

O'Neill cautioned by tribunal as he defends decision to sack physio

JIM MCBETH

IT WAS a performance worthy of the technical area during an Old Firm game ... anger, duress, flashes of humour and, inevitably, the admonition of "match officials".

Martin O’Neill, the Celtic manager and at one time a student of the law, translated pressure from the pitch to the second day of an unfair dismissal hearing in Glasgow yesterday.

He spent two and a half hours defending his decision to sack Brian Scott, the club’s former physiotherapist.

But under pressure from Mr Scott’s agent, Alistair Cockburn, the Celtic manager was criticised for "managing to avoid answering the question". And after one verbose reply to Mr Cockburn, he was warned by the tribunal chairman to "listen" to the questions during cross-examination.

Mr Scott, 50, who was the club’s physiotherapist for 24 years, claims he was unfairly sacked in August last year.

Mr O’Neill told the tribunal that he was "not in the business" of sacking people after that length of service, but Mr Scott’s "destructive" behaviour and inability to work with a new system had left him no choice.

Asked if it was reasonable that Mr Scott should be let go after 24 years, the manager snapped: "I’ll tell you what I believe. I do not give a jot, not a jot, whether it is 24 years or one month. I had a situation deteriorating by the day. It was unacceptable. Unacceptable."

Mr O’Neill admitted, however, that he had not considered other sanctions, such as a warning letter, or even whether he had followed proper dismissal procedure.

"I’m old school," he said. "I’m sure there’s procedure, but I didn’t want to give him a yellow card, as it were. Whether I followed the right protocol, I have no idea whether I did or not."

When asked by the panel if he had informed Mr Scott that he had the right to appeal, Mr O’Neill said he had not seen that "as my particular job".

He attacked any suggestion that a plot had been "hatched" to get rid of Mr Scott.

Mr O’Neill said that, in his time with the club, he had increased the physiotherapist’s wages by 40 per cent.

He added that he wished Mr Scott was still at the club and said he had had no problem with him until another physiotherapist, Tim Williamson, was promoted to become his equal.

He said Mr Scott’s inability to work with Mr Williamson and Mr Scott’s "destructive" behaviour created an intolerable and detrimental situation.

Mr O’Neill explained that the treatment room of a club had to enjoy a particular atmosphere which allowed injured players to bond.

The manager drew laughter from the public benches when he said: "They will compare women they were with the night before if they are single ... possibly even if they are not.’’
He insisted it was vital that clinicians could handle "cynical" players. "You try dealing with Chris Sutton for a week when he is injured," he said.

Mr Scott was wrecking that positive atmosphere, Mr O’Neill claimed. The manager said he warned Mr Scott on a number of occasions, but eventually had to sack him.

However, the manager contradicted earlier evidence given by the club’s doctor, Roddy Macdonald, who inferred that Mr Scott’s alleged drunkenness had had a bearing on the dismissal.

Mr O’Neill said: "That had nothing to do with this. He was never in my office over such a matter."

The manager was also critical of Dr Macdonald, the head of clinical services, because he had not accepted enough responsibility or perhaps acted sooner to bring the matter to his attention. But, when the chips were down, it was Dr Macdonald who enjoyed Mr O’Neill’s support.

"Eventually, the atmosphere could be cut with a knife. I told Brian if he didn’t overcome his problems I would have to sack him," Mr O’Neill said.

It had been a tough decision, but eventually the situation was such that Mr Scott had to be dismissed.

The hearing continues.
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jaysus i'd of loving to be at that hearing.

Mon

Dubsbhoy Banned!